Frankly, when I clean stuff it is to GET RID of the diesel smell, not add it.

With all the hoses under the MB hood I'm especially leery of using kero or diesel, as I am afraid they will seep into rubber and rot it. As you may recall, diesel has about the highest 'seeping' index of any product in the world.

I heated with a diesel boat stove for a few years, and it was really a wonder to watch how that stuff seeped everywhere.